So much has happened at Skoda over the past 25 years that it’s hard to imagine that the company’s alliance with the VW Group is only a quarter of a century old. But the alliance is being celebrated in Prague and Wolfsburg this very day, and there are many good reasons for the partners — and their latter-day customers — to raise a glass.

Back in March 1991 the company, already 96 years old, was bumping along on the back of a bunch of odd-handling rear-engined saloons (the low-priced Estelle was a decent UK seller).

There was also the more progressive three-year-old Favorit, a cheap, decent but entirely lacklustre 1289cc five-door hatchback, which only three years before had discovered the transverse-engined, front-drive layout the rest of the world had adopted wholesale two decades earlier. Superior western European car buyers knew enough about Skoda and its behind-the-times image to make dismal jokes that nevertheless stuck.

VW’s entry into the narrative came promptly after the Czech Velvet Revolution of 1989, during which sheer non-violent insistence by the population caused an extraordinary overthrow of the Communist rule that had lasted since the occupying Germans departed at the end of World War II.

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A deal, encouraged by the new, democratic government, was concluded on this day in 1991 after a brief skirmish with Renault (which wanted to make Czech Twingos).

VW input quickly altered cars’ quality

VW’s influence changed the quality before it changed the cars, and the Felicia of 1994 (a reskinned Favorit) did notably well in customer surveys. But by the end of the 1990s, Skoda was selling front-drive Octavias and Fabias based on the latest VW floorpans.

At first, Skoda was supposed to be positioned as VW’s entry-level marque, but a number of positive factors — the long-buried Czech penchant for fine engineering, the buyer appeal of cars that were good and carried no premium for 'image' and the ability of Skoda’s then-management to mix-and-match VW components to produce practical and unique cars — led to impressive sales volumes that allowed prices to be hiked. Call that the second revolution.

Skodas focus on value and space

Today Skoda plays several roles. Its cars edge towards offering value without taking significant bites out of VW price levels. They often bring new-generation platforms on stream before they’re introduced into the VW range. And in the larger sizes the brand seems to major on good luggage and passenger accommodation, with the successful Superb range being probably the best case in point.

Remarkably, Skoda’s positioning and image are today among the industry’s easiest to understand, and its established clientele among the most satisfied. In an industry that talks incessantly about how long it takes to change customers’ perceptions, this is a fine achievement.

Join the debate

I viewed then bought a rear-engined Rapid Coupe on the strength of Autocar's "What handles like a Porsche...?" review. That (pre VW) was perhaps when things started to turn around for Skoda. I had a couple of Favorits and a Felicia estate. The first Favorit was made before Volkswagen took over, the second after. Both were good cars, but the second was palpably of higher quality. Indeed, it's up there amongst the "best cars I've ever owned". Curiously, the Felicia wasn't quite as good. Quality control was always the pre-VW weak spot. My Rapid was pretty well 100% reliable until the day a con rod smashed its way out of the cylinder block. My sister had an Estelle that she sold when she was overtaken by her own rear wheel. My second Favorit never let me down.

Skoda's is a rare success story. Another Czech brand worth reviving is Tatra which made quirky innovative luxury large saloons. I am rather tired of MB - BMW - Audi - Jaguar dominating the executive market, giving customers more of the same.

Skoda, as a brand, is now almost indistinguishable from VW and its pricing is also. Not sure how that business model is supposed to work, but the cars are selling ?...
"had discovered the transverse-engined, front-drive layout the rest of the world had adopted wholesale two decades earlier." Yes, that just left BMW and Mercedes, front drive was obviously a bit new for them, and still is ;-)

There were some iron curtain heaps which were really funny but in the early 80's were used as clubman cars for rallying including some terrible tweo stroke smokies but the bloody things lasted the days beating and came back for more. Today Skoda has with the help of the VAG parts bin (and please not not just VW) and come up with world beaters like the fabulous Yeti which was and still us the best of the entire groups small SUV's

You've missed out a couple of classics: "How do you double the value of a Skoda?" "Fill the tank!" or "Can I have a new petrol cap for my Skoda?" "Okay, that's a fair swap!" Joking aside, prejudices die hard: my brother-in-law was incredulous when I suggested a Superb estate to replace his Saab 9-3 (which was no more than a Vectra with premium pretentions!) but he's now a very happy Skoda driver.